In 2004, 34% of income earners were exempt from tax. In 2010, 45% were exempt

In 2007 property taxes generated 6.7 billion euros. In 2010 that figure will be 1.6 billion

In 2009 interest on government debt was 8% of tax revenues. In 2014 it will be 20%.

Naysayers try to tell you that the Celtic Tiger was a myth and that free-market policies brought the Irish economy down.

The truth is exactly the opposite. Liberalisation caused the Irish economy to surge until a return to big government crushed it. Membership of the eurozone, poor banking regulation and the government guarantee of bank depositors and creditors were also major factors.

I wrote this article on Ireland recently (Otago Daily Times, 5 November 2010).

Watch British MEP Dan Hannan talking about it in the European Parliament below: